How many skin cells get damaged when we first get
out of bed? How long before they die? Does any
cell ever [avoid being] eaten? How do skin cells
get their food to stay alive? Do skin cancer
cells live longer than regular cells?

Question Date: 2000-04-11

Answer 1:

wow, GREAT QUESTION! But, you guys found a
question that we can't answer! I've got some
hints, though. I think the person who would know
the most about this would be a medical doctor.
Have you heard of the website www.webmd.com ?
They have an ask a doctor site, and I bet if you
told them that you were Jr. high kids who wanted
to know, they'd send you an answer. When you do
get an answer, could you let us know? that way,
you'll be teaching us university professors and
students as well. thanks!

Answer 2:

Skin cells are one ofjust a few kinds of cells in
your body that are constantly being made and
replaced. Hair, a special kind of skin cell is
also a good example of this. All day and all
night, you are "losing" dead skin cells and they
are being replaced by new ones. So, when you get
out of bed, you are not really causing any damage,
but you might "shake off" a few extra cells!
Because of the constant "replacement" it is
unusual for a cell to "be missed." Now, if you
have a wound, you notice it because now some cells
are being missed. A scar forms if the wound is so
great that the skin cells just can't
regenerate--rather than risk infection or further
damage, scar tissue forms. Just like most cells in
your body, skin cells are nourished by the
nutrients carried in the blood. Your skin is in
layers. Deep down is the "new cells" layer, which
is being nourished by being in close contact with
capillaries. The closer to the surface, the
"older" the cell is. Once it gets to be a certain
age, it is considered "differentiated" and has a
defined life span. At this point, it no longer is
nourished actively. And yes, skin cancer cells are
longer-lived. They don't reach this
"differentiated" stage but just keep multiplying
andspreading out into other body parts. So use
that
sunscreen!_______________________________________________________________For
all of the questions: students interested in
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